Lighter employing electric spark ignition

ABSTRACT

A lighter employing electric spark ignition includes a casing and a gas reservoir defining therebetween a space in which is mounted a movable supporting plate carrying on one side thereof an electric cell, a voltage-raising circuit, a switch for connecting the cell to the voltage-raising circuit, and an ignition electrode. The other side of the supporting plate has a printed circuit establishing electrical connections between the components on the one side of the plate. A gas outlet valve is operatively engaged by the supporting plate and controls the supply of gas from the reservoir to a burner adjacent which the ignition electrode is disposed. A control member is operable to close the switch and displace the supporting plate to open the gas outlet valve, with the switch being closed before opening of the valve. In one form of the invention, the supporting plate forms a lever having one end engaged with the gas outlet valve and the switch at its other end. In another form of the invention the supporting plate has a first extension engaged with the gas outlet valve and a second extension connected to the control member which imparts a translational movement to the supporting plate.

United States Patent i1 1 Courier-de-Mere Nov. 5, 1974 1 1 LIGHTEREMPLOYING ELECTRIC SPARK IGNITION [75] Inventor: Henri Edouard FrancoisMarie Courier-de-Mere, Paris, France [73] Assignee: Bicosa Societe deRecherches,

Clichy, France 22 Filed: Mar. 19,1974

211 Appl. No.: 452,999

5/1974 Toiseux 431/255 Primary ExaminerEdward G. Favors Attorney, Agent.or Firm-Michael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A lighter employing electricspark ignition includes a casing and a gas reservoir definingtherebetween a space in which is mounted a movable supporting platecarrying on one side thereof an electric cell, a voltageraising circuit,a switch for connecting the cell to the voltage-raising circuit, and anignition electrode. The. other side of the supporting plate has aprinted circuit establishing electrical connections between thecomponents on the one side of the plate. A gas outlet valve isoperatively engaged by the supporting plate and controls the supply ofgas from the reservoir to a burner adjacent which the ignition electrodeis disposed. A control member is operable to close the switch anddisplace the supporting plate to open the gas outlet valve, with theswitch being closed before opening of the valve. In one form of theinvention, the supporting plate forms a lever having one end engagedwith the gas outlet valve and the switch at its other end. In anotherform of the invention the supporting plate has a first extension engagedwith the gas outlet valve and a second extension connected to thecontrol member which imparts a translational movement to the supportingplate.

19 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHUV 51974 SHEET 10$ 3 LIGHTEREMPLOYING ELECTRIC SPARK IGNITION This invention relates to a lighteremploying electric spark ignition and comprising a holder for receivingan electric cell, a voltage-raising circuit, a switch which is closablein response to operation of a control member to connect thevoltage-raising circuit electrically to the electric cell received inthe holder in use, and an ignition electrode disposed adjacent a burnerand electrically connected to the voltage-raising circuit, operation ofthe control member resulting in opening of a gas outlet valve feedingthe burner.

Lighters of the above kind may be constructed as disclosed in theApplicants French Pat. No. 72 02407 of 25th Jan. 1972 and its threeCertificates of Addition No.72 12833 of 12th Apr. 1972, No. 72 247l4 of7th July 1972 and No. 72 43967 of llth Dec. l972. Hitherto, in suchlighters, the cell holder, the voltage-raising circuit, the ignitionelectrode, the switch and the control member were variously arranged andoccupied a relatively large volume in relation to the total volume ofthe lighter. According to the present invention, there is provided alighter employing electric spark ignition and comprising a holder forreceiving an electric cell, a voltageraising circuit, a switch which isclosable in response to operation of a control member to connect thevoltageraising circuit electrically to the electric cell received in theholder in use, and an ignition electrode disposed adjacent a burner andelectrically connected to the voltage-raising circuit, in which lighterthe cell holder, the voltage-raising circuit, the switch and theignition electrode are disposed on a supporting plate having a portionoperatively engagedwith a gas outlet valve feeding the burner, thesupporting plate being movably mounted between two fixed structures ofthe lighter, and the control member being operable to close the switchand move the supporting plate to open the gas outlet valve.

Preferably, the supporting plate is mounted between a reservoir and acasing of the lighter.

The switch may be'directly actuated by the control member and, in onesuch embodiment, the supporting plate forms a lever which is fulcrumedintermediate itsends on one of the said two fixed structures of thelighter, one end of the lever being operatively engaged with the gasoutlet valve, and the other end of the lever being movable bythe-control member via the switch. In this embodiment the switch has amovable contact including a resilient member which is resilientlydeformable by the control'member to close the switch.

Closure of the switch may result from the movement of the supportingplate in response to operation of the control member and, in one suchembodiment, the supporting plate forms a lever having one endoperatively engaged with the gas outlet valve and the other endengagable with one of the saidfixed structures of the lighter via theswitch, the control member being operable to act on the leverintermediate the ends of the lever to move the said other end of thelever into engagement with the said one fixed structure to close theswitch. In this embodiment the switch has a movable contact including aresilient member which is resiliently deformable by abutment with saidone fixed structure to close the switch.

In another embodiment where closure of the switch results from movementof the supporting plate, the plate is arranged to undergo atranslational movement in response to operation of the control member,one side of the supporting plate presenting a first bifurcated lateralextension operatively engaged with the gas outlet valve, and the otherside of the supporting plate presenting a second lateral extensionconnected to the control member. In this embodiment, the switch has amovable contact including a resilient member which is resilientlydeformable to close the switch by abutment with one of the said fixedstructures of the lighter in response to movement of the supportingplate by operation of the control member.

Embodiments of the invention provide a space-saving arrangement of thecell holder, the voltage-raising circuit, the ignition electrode and thecontrol member and minimise the number and length of the electricalconnections. Further, automatic manufacture of the part of the lighterconcerned with its electric ignition is enabled In order that theinvention may be readily understood, embodiments thereof will now bedescribed in more detaiL-by way of example, with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a lighter according to a first embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a modified detail of the lighterillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a lighter according to a second embodimentof the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a lighter according third embodiment ofthe invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a gas lighter employing electric spark ignition andcomprising a reservoir 1 for liquefied gas and a casing 2. The reservoir1 has a filling valve 3 and an outlet device 4 which as a rule is soconstructed that it can vary the gas output so as to control the heightof the flame. The outlet device 4 comprises a gas outlet valve 5 feedinga burner 6, the gas outlet valve 5 opening against the force of a spring7 which normally keeps it closed.

For the purpose of electric spark ignition, the lighter has anelectrical cell 8, a voltage-raising circuit 9, an

ignition electrode 10 electrically connected to circuit 9, a switch 11and a control member 12 operable by the user to close the switch 11electrically to connect cell 8 to circuit 9 and to open the gas outletvalve 5 feeding the burner 6 adjacent which the ignition electrode 12 isdisposed. When the user operates the control mem- 7 her 12, a spark isdelivered at the electrode 12 to ignite the gas fed to the burner 6.

The cell 8, the voltage-raising circuit 9, the ignition electrode 10 andthe switch 11 are disposed on a supporting plate 13 one portion 13a ofwhich operatively engages the gas outlet valve 5, the supporting plate13 being freely mounted between two fixed structures of the lighter,i.e., between its reservoir 1 and its casing 2. Towards its end 13a thesupporting plate 13 takes the form of a fork engaging around the gasoutlet valve 5 below the burner 6, so that it can open the gas outletvalve 5 against the force of the spring 7.

causes the closure of the switch 11 and then the opening of the gasoutlet valve 5, the offset between the closure of the switch 11 and theopening of the gas outlet valve 5 corresponding to the time needed toproduce the spark in the voltage-raising circuit 9.

The supporting plate 13 is made of an insulating material, the cell 8,the voltage-raising circuit 9, the ignition electrode and the switch 11being disposed on one side of the supporting plate 13. On the other sideof the supporting plate 13 there is disposed a printed circuit 14providing the electrical connections between the cell 8, thevoltage-raising circuit 9, the ingnition electrode 10 and the switch 11.

The cell 8 is retained by a holder in the form ofa claw clip 15 attachedto the supporting plate by pins 16 extending through the supportingplate to the printed circuit 14 to which they are electricallyconnected. The pins 16 thus fix the clip 15 to the supporting plate 13and electrically connect a first pole of the cell 8 to the printedcircuit 14.

Disposed beside the clip 15 is a movable switch contact in the form of aresilient strip-shaped member 17 extending above the cell 8 and attachedto the supporting plate 13 by pins 18 extending through the sup portingplate to the printed circuit 14. The pins 18 fix the resilient member 17to the supporting plate 13 and electrically connect the resilient member17 to the printed circuit 14. The swtich 11 is therefore formed by theresilient member 17 and the second pole of the cell 8.

The voltage-raising circuit 9 includes an integrated circuit 19 whichsupports an indcutance coil 20 and is attached to the supporting plate13 by pins 21 extending through the supporting plate to the printedcircuit 14. The pins 21 fix the integrated circuit 19 to the supportingplate 13 and electrically connect the integrated circuit 19 to theprinted circuit 14. The voltage-raising circuit 9 also includes acapacitor 22 which is attached to the supporting plate 13 by a pin 23extending through the supporting plate to the printed circuit 14. Thepin 23 fixcsthe capacitor 22 to the supporting plate 13 and electricallyconnects the capacitor 22 to the printed circuit 14. Thevolatage-raisingcircuit 9 further includes a transformer 24 having a primary winding 24aand a secondary winding 24b wound on an insulating ferrite core 246which is attached to the supporting plate 13 by two pins 25 extendingthrough the supporting plate to the printed circuit 14. The pins 25 fixthe ferrite core 240 to the supporting plate 13 and electrically connectthe primary winding 24a and the secondary winding 24b to the printedcircuit 14.

A single ignition electrode 10 is attached to the ferrite core 24c and.is electrically connected to the secondary winding 24b. Preferably theferrite core 240 comprises a portion of minor diameter around which thesecondary winding 24b is wound, the primary winding 24a being woundaround the secondary winding 24b.

As a support for the ignition electrode 10, the ferrite core 24(- has aportion of major diameter (a diameter at least equal to the diameter ofthe primary winding 24a), such portion of major diameter forming athermal screen between the burner 6 and the primary and secondarywindings 24a and 24b. This portion of major diameter bears the pins 25.The ignition spark is struck between the ignition electrode 10 and theburner 6 which is in the form of a diffuser burner having a centralaperture 60 enclosed by an annular aperture 6b.

The burner 6 is electrically connected to the printed circuit 14 via acontact member 26 interposed between the supporting plate 13 and theburner 6 and attached to the supporting plate 13 via a pin 27 extendingthrough the supporting plate to the printed circuit 14; The pin 27 fixesthe contact member 26 to the supporting plate 13 and electricallyconnects it to the printed circuit 14.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 the supportingplate 13 is constructed to form a lever whose forked end 13a cooperateswith the gas outlet valve 5. A central region of the plate 13 bears on afulcrum in the form of a transverse boss 10 provided on the reservoir 1.The other end 13b of the plate 13 is movable by the control member 12via the switch 11. To this end the fixed terminal of the switch 11 isformed by the second pole of the cell 8 mounted on the supporting plate13, the movable switch terminal being formed by the resilient member 17which cooperates with the control member 12. 7

As shown in FIG. 1, the control member 12 is adapted to be pushed in thedirection indicated by the arrow F to cause flexion in the resilientmember 17, so that initially the resilient member 17 contacts theterminal of the cell 8 to close the switch 11 and then the resilientmember 17 transmits the descending movement of the control member 12 tothe supporting plate 13 to cause the plate 13 to pivot and the gasoutlet valve 5 to rise and open.

FIG. 2 shows a modification of the FIG. 1 embodiment, in which thecontrol member 12 is slidable in the direction of the arrow G. In thiscase the control member 12 comprises a ramp 12a to cause closure of theswitch 11 and the pivoting of the supporting plate 13 to lift the gasoutlet valves.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3 (in which likemembers to those shown in FIG. 1 have like references), the supportingplate 13 is constructed to form a lever whose forked end 13a cooperateswith the gas outlet valve 5. The other end 1312 of the plate 13 isarranged for engagement with a projection 2a on the casing 2 via theswitch 11, when the plate 13 is displaced upwardly by the control member12 which acts on a central zone 13d of the plate 13. To this end, one ofthe terminals of the switch 11 is formed by a terminal of the cell 8 theother terminal being formed by the resilient member 17 which is broughtinto engagement with the projection 2a.

The control member 12 is adapted to be pushed in the direction indicatedby the arrow H to cause the pivoting of the supporting plate 13 aroundits end 13a, so that initially the resilient member 17 abuts theprojection 2a and comes into contact with the terminal of the sidebearing the printed circuit 14, a first bifurcated lateral extension 13coperatively engaging the gas outlet valve 5, and, on the side remotefrom the printed circuit 14, a secondlateral extension 13f connected tothe shown by the arrow] to cause the traversing of the supporting plate13, so that the resilient member 17 first abuts the projection 2b andcomes into contact with the terminal of the cell 8 to close the switch11, and then the first lateral extension 132 of the supporting plate 13causes the raising and opening of the gas outlet valve 5. The spring ofthe gas outlet valve 5 constitutes resilient return means returning thesupporting plate 13 into its initial position after the actuation of thecontrol member 12.

ln the lighter of FIG. 4 the expansion device 4 is mounted just belowthe gas outlet valve 5 and serves to vary the gas output in order toadjust the height of the flame. A knurled disc 4a is provided for thispurpose.

The transformer 24 of the voltage-raising circuit 9 of FIG. 4 comprisesa portion of minor diameter around which the secondary and primarywindings are wound and a portion of major diameter attached by its baseto the supporting plate 13. The ignition electrode 10 is attached to theportion of major diameter and extends through the supporting plate 13.

Whichever of the above embodiments is adopted, the normal actuation ofthe control member 12 by the user of the lighter first causes theclosure of the switch 11 and then the opening of the gas outlet valve 5.The offset between the closure of the switch 11 and the opening of thegas outlet valve 5 is about 0.3 s, corresponding to the time required toproduce the spark in the voltage-raising circuit. Any loss of gas due topremature opening of the gas outlet valve 5 is therefore obviated.

' Finally, the lighters embodying the invention have a certain number ofadvantages which can be summarised as follows.

The lighter is made up of three simple elements namely the lighterreservoir, its casing and the supporting plate bearing that portion ofthe lighter which is used for its electric ignition and acting as .afork for opening the gas outlet valve. These elements are readilyinterchangeable without any need for a specialized technician.

In view of the simplicity of operation of the lighter, it is much morereliable than has been possible with conventional electrically ignitedlighters. The cell can readily be replaced simply by disengagement andengagement in its claw clip. Parasitic contacts, which always causemalfunctioning, are limited to the minimum.

From the manufacturing aspect, it is extremely simple to assemble theelectric or electronic componen on the supporting plate. I

The construction of the transformer and its insulating ferrite coreenables such core to be used as a thermal screen and as a support forthe ignition electrode.

Lastly, the lighter can be constructed with a rechargeable reservoir ora throw-away one. In the former case there is no particular problem inperiodically replacing the reservoir, inter alia if the expansion devicebecomes worn.

We claim: 1. A lighter employing electric spark ignition, which lightercomprises:

a body including a reservoir for gas, said body having two fixedstructures defining a space therebetween;

a burner supported within said body;

a gas outlet valve arranged between said burner and the reservoir ofsaid body for controlling the supply of gas from the reservoir to saidburner;

a supporting plate movably mounted in the space between said two fixedstructures of said body and having a portion operatively engaged withsaid gas outlet valve for opening said valve on movement of saidsupporting plate;

an electric cell disposed on said supporting plate;

a voltage-raising circuit disposed on said supporting plate;

a switch disposed on said supporting plate for electrically connectingsaid electric cell to said voltageraising circuit;

an ignition electrode disposed on said supporting plate and adjacentsaid burner; and

a control member supported by said body and operable to move saidsupporting plate and close said switch.

2. A lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein operation of said controlmember first closes said switch and then opens said gas outlet valve.

3. A lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said two fixedstructures of said body comprises a fulcrum, and said supporting plateis supported intermediate its ends on said fulcrum to form a lever oneend of which is operatively engaged with said gas outlet valve and theother end of which is movable by said control member via said switch.

4. A lighter as claimed in claim 3, wherein said switch has a movablecontact, said movable contact including a resilient member which isresiliently deformable by said control member to close said switch.

5. A lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein closure of said switchresults from the movement of said supporting plate in response tooperation of said control memher.

6. A lighter as claimed in claim 5, wherein one of said two fixedstructures of said body comprises an abutment and said supporting plateforms a lever having one end operatively engaged with said gas outletvalve and the other end engageable with said abutment, said controlmember being operable to act on the lever intermediate the ends of thelever to move the said other end of the lever into engagement with saidabutment to close the switch.

7. A lighter as claimed in claim 6, wherein said switch has a movablecontact, said movable contact including a resilient member which isresiliently deformable by engagement with said abutment to close saidswitch.

8. A lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sup porting plate ismounted for translational movement in response to operation of saidcontrol member.

9. A lighter as claimed in claim 8, wherein said supporting platepresents on one side thereof a first bifurcated lateral extensionoperatively engaged with said gas outlet valve, and said supportingplate presents on the other side thereof a second lateral extensionconnected to said control member.

10. A lighter as claimed in claim 8, wherein one of said two fixedstructures of said body comprises an abutment and said switch has amovable contact, said movable contact including a resilient member whichis resiliently deformable to close said switch by engagement with saidabutment in response to movement of the supporting plate by operation ofsaid control member.

11. A lighter as claimed in claim 1, including a holder for saidelectric cell, said holder comprising a clipattached to'said supportingplate and having claws for re siliently engaging and retaining saidcell.

12. A lighter as claimed in claim 11, wherein said switch comprises amovable contact, said movable contact comprising a resilient stripattached to said supporting plate and extending in spaced relation tosaid holder, closure of said switch being effected by resilientdeformation of said strip into contact with a pole of said cell.

13. A lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said voltage-raisingcircuit comprises an integrated circuit, a capacitor and a transformereach attached to said supporting plate, said integrated circuitsupporting an inductance coil.

14. A lighter as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transformer comprisesan insulating ferrite core and primary and secondary windings wound onsaid core, said core having a portion of minor diameter receiving 8 saidwindings and a portion of major diameter forming a thermal screen.

15. A lighter as claimed in claim 14, wherein said ferrite core portionof major diameter bears said ignition electrode and comprises means forattachment of said transformer to said supporting plate.

16. A lighter as claimed in claim I, wherein said supporting plate ismade of electrically insulating material, said supporting plate havingdisposed on one side thereof said cell, said voltage-raising circuit,said ignition electrode and said switch, and having on the other sidethereof a printed circuit providing electrical connections between saidholder, said voltage-raising circuit, said ignition electrode and saidswitch.

'17. A lighter as claimed in claim 16, including a contact memberattached to said supporting plate, said contact member being interposedbetween said supporting plate and said burner to connect said burnerelectrically to said printed circuit for generation of an ignition sparkbetween said ignition electrode and said burner upon closure of saidswitch.

18. A lighter as claimed in claim 16, wherein all the elements attachedto said supporting plate comprise pins fixing such elements to thesupporting plate and electrically connecting the elements to the printedcircuit.

19. A lighter according to claim 1, including a casing, said supportingplate being mounted between said reservoir and said casing.

1. A lighter employing electric spark ignition, which lighter comprises:a body including a reservoir for gas, said body having two fixedstructures defining a space therebetween; a burner supported within saidbody; a gas outlet valve arranged between said burner and the reservoirof said body for controlling the supply of gas from the reservoir tosaid burner; a supporting plate movably mounted in the space betweensaid two fixed structures of said body and having a portion operativelyengaged with said gas outlet valve for opening said valve on movement ofsaid supporting plate; an electric cell disposed on said supportingplate; a voltage-raising circuit disposed on said supporting plate; aswitch disposed on said supporting plate for electrically connectingsaid electric cell to said Voltage-raising circuit; an ignitionelectrode disposed on said supporting plate and adjacent said burner;and a control member supported by said body and operable to move saidsupporting plate and close said switch.
 2. A lighter as claimed in claim1, wherein operation of said control member first closes said switch andthen opens said gas outlet valve.
 3. A lighter as claimed in claim 1,wherein one of said two fixed structures of said body comprises afulcrum, and said supporting plate is supported intermediate its ends onsaid fulcrum to form a lever one end of which is operatively engagedwith said gas outlet valve and the other end of which is movable by saidcontrol member via said switch.
 4. A lighter as claimed in claim 3,wherein said switch has a movable contact, said movable contactincluding a resilient member which is resiliently deformable by saidcontrol member to close said switch.
 5. A lighter as claimed in claim 1,wherein closure of said switch results from the movement of saidsupporting plate in response to operation of said control member.
 6. Alighter as claimed in claim 5, wherein one of said two fixed structuresof said body comprises an abutment and said supporting plate forms alever having one end operatively engaged with said gas outlet valve andthe other end engageable with said abutment, said control member beingoperable to act on the lever intermediate the ends of the lever to movethe said other end of the lever into engagement with said abutment toclose the switch.
 7. A lighter as claimed in claim 6, wherein saidswitch has a movable contact, said movable contact including a resilientmember which is resiliently deformable by engagement with said abutmentto close said switch.
 8. A lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidsupporting plate is mounted for translational movement in response tooperation of said control member.
 9. A lighter as claimed in claim 8,wherein said supporting plate presents on one side thereof a firstbifurcated lateral extension operatively engaged with said gas outletvalve, and said supporting plate presents on the other side thereof asecond lateral extension connected to said control member.
 10. A lighteras claimed in claim 8, wherein one of said two fixed structures of saidbody comprises an abutment and said switch has a movable contact, saidmovable contact including a resilient member which is resilientlydeformable to close said switch by engagement with said abutment inresponse to movement of the supporting plate by operation of saidcontrol member.
 11. A lighter as claimed in claim 1, including a holderfor said electric cell, said holder comprising a clip attached to saidsupporting plate and having claws for resiliently engaging and retainingsaid cell.
 12. A lighter as claimed in claim 11, wherein said switchcomprises a movable contact, said movable contact comprising a resilientstrip attached to said supporting plate and extending in spaced relationto said holder, closure of said switch being effected by resilientdeformation of said strip into contact with a pole of said cell.
 13. Alighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said voltage-raising circuitcomprises an integrated circuit, a capacitor and a transformer eachattached to said supporting plate, said integrated circuit supporting aninductance coil.
 14. A lighter as claimed in claim 13, wherein saidtransformer comprises an insulating ferrite core and primary andsecondary windings wound on said core, said core having a portion ofminor diameter receiving said windings and a portion of major diameterforming a thermal screen.
 15. A lighter as claimed in claim 14, whereinsaid ferrite core portion of major diameter bears said ignitionelectrode and comprises means for attachment of said transformer to saidsupporting plate.
 16. A lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidsupporting plate is made of electrically insulating material, saidsupporting plate having disposed on one sidE thereof said cell, saidvoltage-raising circuit, said ignition electrode and said switch, andhaving on the other side thereof a printed circuit providing electricalconnections between said holder, said voltage-raising circuit, saidignition electrode and said switch.
 17. A lighter as claimed in claim16, including a contact member attached to said supporting plate, saidcontact member being interposed between said supporting plate and saidburner to connect said burner electrically to said printed circuit forgeneration of an ignition spark between said ignition electrode and saidburner upon closure of said switch.
 18. A lighter as claimed in claim16, wherein all the elements attached to said supporting plate comprisepins fixing such elements to the supporting plate and electricallyconnecting the elements to the printed circuit.
 19. A lighter accordingto claim 1, including a casing, said supporting plate being mountedbetween said reservoir and said casing.